In your face US of A – Gracias a Marti……
Jose Marti…..wow…what a powerful writer…what evocation of emotion. I actually remember reading about Jose Marti in undergrad, not really ever knowing who he was, what he stood for, or even what he had to say….I think I was too busy translating the text (since my second language is obviously Spanish…) and not ever really grasping what he had to say.
Our America by Jose Marti: Writings on Latin America and the Struggle for Cuban Independence stirred emotion in me as I read even in the first paragraph. “The conceited villager believes the entire world to be his village.” The first thing I thought of was the United States of America. How sad that this great country that I love so much could be the first thing that came to mind while reading this.
Upon researching a bit more about Marti, his life, and in general the modernismo movement in Latin America, I was moved to read that Marti had great admiration for the United States, but feared its power and rein on Latin American republics, especially Cuba. Reading that first sentence in Nuestra America proves his point to that sentiment.
The second thing that I noticed upon reading Marti was his rich, vibrant language of desription of everything. His prose is beautiful and stunning at just the right time.
“Oh Libery, never stain your white robes, so that the newborn will not fear you! You do well, Poet of the falls, to dare to be free in an age of pretentious slaves, for men are so accustomed to slavery that when they have ceased to be slaves of the monarchy, they are no beginning, with greater humiliation, to be slaves of Liberty!” (326-327)
Jose is a man that knows exactly how to put it “in your face”. He is so eloquent in his speech, its as if the person, institution, or even entire nation does not realize that they had been insulted. Although I have not gotten through all the Marti readings, nor really tied the whole modernismo thing into it yet, I have really, really enjoyed reading his writing in Nuestra America. It almost makes me want to revitalize his movement and say “DOWN WITH THE MONARCHY!”….even though we don’t live in a monarchy….there are definitely “kings” and “nobles” here in our USA…..and after a time…us “slaves” needs to stand up and say-No MORE! (and here I reference us to being slaves of commercialism, materialism, and basic aquiescence to all things in America).
on February 22nd, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Amy, it is very interesting how you point out our condition when our everydays lives are dictated by commercialism. Marti’s readings and his opinion of imperial powers have not changed much since then. It will be interesting to see what will have in the next century, considering we are already here.
on February 23rd, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Seems like our country has been viewed as a bully throughout time, doesn’t it? Hmmm…
I was born and have lived in this country all my life. I know that had I grown up elsewhere, my existence would be dramatically different. Therefore, I value the rights and priviledges made available in this country but my love doesn’t blind me from seeing the USA’s flaws. A major flaw being the insatiable need to FORCE our “help” on other countries when our help isn’t wanted or appreciated.
on February 26th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
I too missed the point when I read Martí and also Dario in college. I think that many of us here in the U.S. are unaware of the images that many countries have of us, and we are surprised when we encounter hostility toward us.